#WSocial will open up their beta program today⦠and I have a SCOOP for you: it appears that they have quietly gone closed-source!
This is ironic, considering that the @EUCommission just unveiled their Tech Sovereignty Package, emphasizing the importance of #OpenSource. And yet they have migrated their main ATproto accounts to W Social - whose code can no longer be inspected!
My full article - with a great analysis by @aral:
Signal is working on a standalone version for Signal Desktop that does not require a mobile phone π€©
Also more customizable options when using Desktop as a linked device
#signal #signalapp #signalmessenger #news #windows #linux #macOS #desktop #tech #aboutsignal
"Kagi Small Web is an open source reminder that the web is plenty weird and interesting, despite the reports that social media is making the Internet homogenized. Social Media is not the Internet and there's a lot of goodness to enjoy outside of it. Go find it with Small Web!"
Isn't it sort of weird that there is practically no mainstream software for writing that is noncommercial? https://nathanschneider.info/2026/06/toward-a-durable-writing-stack/
Jellyfin is free open source software that lets you create your own streaming services at home. It's a libre alternative to closed platforms like Plex and Emby.
Jellyfin works with locally stored video/audio files, internet radio/TV and broadcast TV. You can find out more at:
π± https://jellyfin.org
You can follow their official account at:
π± @jellyfin
#SelfHosting #MediaServer #FOSS #Plex #Emby #Alternatives #Streaming
What a fantastic talk by @cwebber about the importance of building open, decentralized, and secure technologies. It is about empowering ourselves.
π Project Release Announcement Time! π
I wrote a WebUSB extension for Firefox.
This lets web pages access USB devices (with your permission). This has long been supported by Chrome, but Mozilla has not wanted it, at least by default. Fortunately, because add-ons are a thing (for now. make sure to keep fighting for this!), it's possible to change that!
Common reasons for wanting this include programming microcontrollers, 3d-printers, smartphone bootloaders, and similar "physical computing" projects.
This works on Windows, Linux, and macOS
You can get the source code here: https://github.com/ArcaneNibble/awawausb
In order to make this work, you will need to install a small program on your computer. This is explained in the README. You can then install the .xpi file (on the GitHub Releases page) into your browser (which was _just_ auto-approved while I was typing this announcement up).
Please boost (if you want), test, report bugs, etc. etc. (although do keep in mind that this code is entirely written by a single catgirl)
i think this is the perfect type of project to drop late on a sunday / very early on a monday?
This is how we can keep building a web worth wanting in the face of disingenuous veto players [1] and subversion of standards venues based on degraded competition [2]. The humility to admit your first idea is *probably* wrong (at least in part), combined with urgency to fix real problems for users and developers, puts a premium on responsibility in leadership. I'm proud of the team for taking that seriously.
[1]: https://infrequently.org/2025/09/apples-crimes-against-the-internet-community/
[2]: https://www.mnot.net/blog/2026/02/13/no
I wrote about Zuckerberg's texts with Musk and how they undermine the principles of a fair and equal platform for everyone https://www.platformer.news/zuckerberg-musk-texts-trial-content-moderation/
Economist. Antitrust policy; industrial organization; history of economics
xmpp: mattp@sendero.snikket.chat